Identification and assessment risks in maintenance operations
Built Environment Project and Asset Management
ISSN: 2044-124X
Article publication date: 2 September 2014
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to identify the risks and methods for their assessment in the case of maintenance activities in Sri Lanka. The main objectives were to identify the occupational risks in maintenance work and the risk assessment methods in place and their drawbacks in the Sri Lankan context.
Design/methodology/approach
The identification and assessment of risks were undertaken through a study of three fast-moving consumer products manufacturing organisations. The relevant data were collected through personal interviews and site visits.
Findings
Most typical risks associated with maintenance are cuts, slips and falls, with severe or fatal injuries as the result of negligence of SOP and failure to use the PPE. Checklists, brainstorming and decomposition techniques were identified as the preferred methods in maintenance for risk identification while a risk rating matrix is used for risk analysis. Lack of awareness and indifference towards risk assessment; make effective risk assessment very difficult. These drawbacks can be minimised by education, systematic training and enforcing rules, regulations and procedures for controlling risks.
Originality/value
Studies on maintenance worldwide have identified several maintenance-specific risks such as working at heights, the pressure of time, etc. However, there is a dearth of published research on risks and risk assessment methods in maintenance in Sri Lankan context. The findings highlighted the safety risks and risk assessment tools entailed in the maintenance operations of manufacturing organisations. The findings will be useful for those in maintenance operations in managing risks effectively through designing work environments that are risk-free.
Keywords
Citation
Wijeratne, W.M.P.U., Perera, B.A.K.S. and De Silva, L. (2014), "Identification and assessment risks in maintenance operations", Built Environment Project and Asset Management, Vol. 4 No. 4, pp. 384-405. https://doi.org/10.1108/BEPAM-09-2013-0041
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited